COLUMBUS, Ohio — Corn and ethanol producers may drive revenue into the state economy, according to a March analysis by ABF Economics.


What You Need To Know

  • In this week's edition of Ag Report, anchor and reporter Chuck Ringwalt and agriculture expert Andy Vance discuss a March analysis that argues ethanol could positively impact the economy and environment

  • This analysis was commissioned by POET, the owner of three biorefining plants in Ohio

  • Each week, Ringwalt and Vance discuss a topic of importance within agriculture

E15 is a 15% blend of ethanol in unleaded gasoline. 

The analysis was completed by ABF Economics and touts E15.

"E15 will boost farm incomes across the Midwest, grow dependable domestic markets for grain and be a critical step in securing America's energy independence," POET founder and CEO Jeff Broin said.

POET commissioned the analysis. It is the owner of three biorefining plants in Ohio with locations in Fostoria, Leipsic and Marion.

"Understanding who's behind a research study is important," Agriculture expert Andy Vance said. "POET funded the study. Certainly you might question if the study hadn't been favorable and said, 'Oh no. This would be terrible.' Would we have ever heard about the study? Probably not, so it is good to just be aware, but I would say that this is not a single piece of research. There is a whole book of literature out there, industry funded and independent, that says for corn farmers and rural economies, ethanol is a good thing and that increasing from 10 to 15% is good for the environment and for those rural economies."

Vance also discussed how E15 is used.

"When you go to the pump currently, you're probably pumping a 10% blend of ethanol and ethanol is a corn-based fuel additive," he said. "The idea here is that if we increase that percentage to 15%, it would be better for agriculture, farmers and the economy of course. There are also environmental benefits as well. We're blending less petroleum, more renewable fuels as we like to call ethanol."

The impact study suggests that doing this could add more than $200 million to Ohio households.

Click here to view the analysis.